4 ways to be more strategic at work

You may have had feedback on occasion that you should “think before you do or shout something”. Unfortunately, there were few concrete handles in this comment on how to do that. In this article I will give you 4 ideas how to strengthen your strategic thinking and acting. You won’t have to think twice before making a decision.

What’s strategic thinking?

You consider the consequences of your actions before you act.

Not only for executives

You can start by adjusting your view of strategic thinking. If you think that strategic thinking is only for the top bosses then I can quickly burst that bubble for you. Strategic thinking is necessary for every level of the organization. Of course it’s not in your job description but it’s very useful if you can and do it. You know better what’s happening and you can respond more easily to developments and decisions made at higher levels.

How to do it: strategic thinking

Below I discuss these ways with you.

1. Knowledge

Observing and discovering trends

If you are always that busy bee then you will never have time to think. So you will have to make a decision to devote some portion of your work time to strategic thinking. You may decide how much as long as I can see and notice in your work that you set aside time for this. In any case, it cannot be 0%.

Keeping an overview in sports

If all you do while playing sports (fi soccer or hockey) is look down, you have your eye on the ball/puck but then it’s hard to play to your teammates or see what’s happening on the field. So strategic thinking is something like looking up in the field, choosing the right position, coming up with the right defensive move or making the right switch.

To apply strategic thinking, you need to know your company/organization well. What environment is your organization in? Who are we dealing with? What are the most important trends? What regulations are important? What is your company’s main strategy and what do they want you to work on? In short: what castle are you building. Important: It takes a little more than just expressing your appreciation for strategy. In addition to your appreciation, the following is also needed:

1. Make space/time in your calendar to discover internal trends and line them up. For example, ask yourself what topics come up or are brought up time after time on the agenda. Think about why this happens and what problems it creates for colleagues each time.
2. Strengthen your network by making contacts with colleagues outside your own team and also with contacts in your field. You can learn from each other back and forth when it comes to key developments. It can be done very simply by joining a relevant group on Linkedin, for example.
3. Finally, it is important to have a clear picture of what strategic contribution your work has to the whole. Learn to properly articulate this strategic element at the right times.

2. Think

Ask the tough questions

If, as a professional in your field of work, you have a good view of the trends and what is going on, then a new dimension in your ability to think strategically arises. You can now ask yourself the question: how do I provide a broader perspective on the idea I am considering in my work or that is presented to me for decision making?

If you neglect this examination of the broader perspective, you remain professionally myopic. You only see short-term possibilities. To see a broader perspective, it’s necessary to develop your ability to ask (strategic) questions. You will see that other possibilities or outcomes will emerge. Here you have some examples. In doing so, just take a concrete project in your mind and try to answer the questions for this project.

Examples of “difficult” strategic questions

1. What do you think happened (in terms of success, results) after 1 year?
2. What do you think has happened (in terms of success, results) after 3 years?
3. What stands in the way of possible success?
4. What will be the first signs of success or setback?
5. What arguments are necessary to convince our business partners?

Asking the “tough” questions is easier if you have a good understanding of trends and developments in your field. You can strengthen your questions and your decision-making with these 25 helpful strategic questions.

3. Talk the talk

Your strategic choice of words

In many cases, if you can think strategically well, you also know how to choose the right words to convey something. This is how you do that: you know how to bring a good structure to your story that distinguishes main issues from side issues. This makes it easier for people to follow you and understand the core of your story. In addition, you know how to challenge people in existing situations and discussing the underlying “truths” with each other.

Playing in the major league

If you have been promoted to the major league of strategic thinking then you are able to take people through the process of identifying complex issues, shaping common thinking and framing strategic choices. That all sounds difficult and it actually is. You can start honing this skill, though.

1. Bring a clear structure to your communication (verbal and written). Group and organize your main points. Do this as briefly and concisely as you can. Do not use superfluous language.
2. Give your audience a clear idea of the overarching themes. That way you provide a framework for the theme or topic you want to discuss. You put your audience in a strategic mode that way. It prevents you from diving into the details too quickly.
3. First give your vision or answer to the question being asked or what needs to be decided and then substantiate with your (strategic) arguments (instead of working toward your main point). This way of working makes people curious.

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4. Doing

Set aside time for reflection

I frequently encounter professionals who show me their diaries. It’s often loaded with day-to-day appointments and activities. You will understand that this ‘appointment’ behavior blocks strategic thinking. If you act this way, you do not sufficiently utilize your full potential. And that is especially unfortunate for yourself! How can you set aside more time for strategic thinking? Maybe the following suggestions will help you.

1. Stop going to meetings you don’t need to attend. Ask yourself: what is my added value there or even simpler: did the meeting contribute to achieving my own (work) goals
2. Block qualitative time in your calendar for strategic (thinking). Basically just as you grab preparation time for meetings or appointments. For example, think about what strategic questions you can ask to make a good decision.
3. Embrace the concept of conflict in the proper sense of the word. Conflict in the sense of being willing to constructively discuss difficult issues, being accountable for choices you make and not making difficult issues personal or letting them affect you personally. The ability to resolve conflict is necessary to move forward.

Strategic thinking is above all doing

Strategic thinking is learned mainly by doing it a lot. With this blog, you have a manual to start or build on it. It is not a skill reserved only for the sons or daughters of gods. If you start with it then it will feel uncomfortable at first (like any new skill). As a (executive) professional you grow and it makes you better. It takes you to a higher professional level and shows what you are really capable of. Well worth the effort!